With over 25 years working with children and parents in the field of education, 13 years on a holistic parenting path and 7 years as a certified holistic health coach, I can help make your REAL parenting journey easier.

 

While on my teaching path I also realized I was a sugar addict who survived on white flour and fake foods, drank Mountain Dew until it gave me a chronic stomach ache and turned to medications to cover up my symptoms. I had horrible PMS and I became depressed. I went from doctor to doctor looking for a solution that would help me feel better. Help me live a happier life. Nothing seemed to help.

Until someone suggested I stop drinking Mountain Dew every day to see if my stomach aches would go away. I thought that was crazy. How could drinking pop every day, the pop that so many people were drinking, give me such bad stomach aches? Well, I decided to give it a try to prove that person wrong. But, as it turns out I was wrong. My stomach aches cleared up – actually went away. It was my ‘aha’ moment that led me to realize that what I put in my body – what I drink, what I eat – matters. It was the beginning of my REAL journey to health and happiness.

I continued to experiment with my diet, mostly taking out sugar and white flour. My PMS decreased dramatically. My energy improved. But I had more layers to peel away. I continued to deal with depression, even to the point of going into the hospital just a year and a half after being married. It was the hardest time in my life and it was a valuable gift. I came out on the other side of that depression realizing that REAL health is very much about nourishing my physical body but it is also about nourishing my spirit. All the REAL food in the world isn’t enough to help you live your best life if you are not feeding your spirit and being true to yourself.

I also came out on the other side of that depression learning that I was about to become a mother. It was a greater blessing than I could have ever imagined for myself at that point in my life. That was over 12 years ago. My blessings were tripled with the gift of my twin boys 10 years ago. 

When my children were small - just 4, 2 and 2 - I made the decision to become certified through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition as a holistic health coach.  And, with much parenting support from my husband, I completed that program and began coaching women.  I really loved working with women who still had children at home and the health coaching I was doing - helping them change their family's diets through pantry makeovers, grocery store tours and menu planning - quickly incorporated me drawing on my background in education and becoming a 'parenting coach' too.  I helped these moms reform picky eaters, make mealtimes more enjoyable and set boundaries to keep their children healthy, happy and safe.  I continue to coach parents individually and through moms' groups, helping them make manageable changes in their family's diet and in their parenting.

Just like you, from the moment I learned I was going to be a parent my biggest wish was to have a healthy happy child. I quickly learned that while giving my my children what they need from me to help nourish their bodies and their spirits - unconditional love, my presence, and conscientious parenting – is simple, it's anything but easy.




Yes, parenting is hard but I believe in you.  I believe in me.  I believe in our kids.

When we parent conscientiously we can tune into what each of our children needs from us.  It doesn't mean we do everything right or have all the answers but it does mean that we are continually connecting, reflecting and learning. 

It means we are striving to create conditions in our child's life that help him be the best version of himself - now and in the future.
 

Just yesterday I (the holistic health and parent coach) had a horrible parenting day, which ended in yelling at my kids just before bed.  Ugh.  What quickly turned our evening around is that I took a few minutes, realized I made a poor choice about how I handled my frustration and told them so.  Me being vulnerable led to my kids reflecting and making amends for how they chose to behave.  Then I decided to take time (even though I was stressed out about a deadline for my work) to read to them.  The next morning was smoother and more enjoyable than it had been in a while.  Surprise, surpise - not!



No matter what you've fed your child up to this point; no matter if you've contributed to creating your picky eater; no matter if you've just had a fight about homework or friends or chores...right now is what matters. 

How do I know?

I've seen it over and over in my life.  When I stop and change course in my parenting, change happens. 

I've seen it in the lives of my clients.  When they've struggled with mealtime or with yelling or feeling overwhelmed and I help them change course in their parenting, change happens.  
 

 

If you're feeling overwhelmed on how to get your family on the road to health and happiness, start by signing up for our nourishMD blog. In our blog, along with sharing our own not-always-pretty parenting journey, Dr. Sue and I teach you HOW to:

 

3. Be a parent who empowers your child to live his best life!

Sound like a lot of ground to cover? It is!  But we believe REAL food, REAL health and REAL parenting are essential to your child living a happy healthy life!  No exceptions.